- Department of Philosophy
- Why Philosophy
- What You Can Do With Your Philosophy Degree
What You Can Do With Your Philosophy Degree

Studying philosophy teaches you critical thinking and writing skills that are conducive to success in a variety of careers and occupations. It prepares graduates for diverse employment opportunities in an ever-changing economy.
- College graduates who major in philosophy than graduates from any other humanities field.
- The for philosophy majors is higher than for marketing majors and many other business majors (2015 PayScale data).
- According to , U.S. graduates of philosophy programs are more likely to have jobs than US graduates of computer science programs. Indeed, many to address thorny issues raised by emerging technologies.
- The lists the top occupational groups for philosophy degree holders as management, educational and library, legal, community and social service and business and financial occupations.
A major in philosophy is also outstanding preparation for advanced study in a range graduate and professional programs, including business, medicine and law.
- Philosophy majors are among the very top performers on the .
- Philosophy majors have the highest mean composite score of all majors on the , which is typically required for admission to graduate programs.
- Philosophy majors score among the highest of all majors on the , which is typically required for admission to M.B.A. (graduate business) programs.
Career Outcomes
But what do 麻豆精品 philosophy alumni do? Top fields for undergraduate alumni include:
- Legal
- Finance
- Health care
- Technology
- Human resources
According to Steppingblocks data, job titles for 麻豆精品 undergraduate philosophy degree holders include attorney, partner, professor, project manager and software engineer, among many others.
Overall, the average salary for alumni of 麻豆精品’s undergraduate philosophy major is about $98,000, higher than for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences overall (Steppingblocks 2026, for B.A./B.S. alumni with bachelor’s degree or higher).
Most graduates of our master’s program go on to doctoral programs elsewhere and the most common occupation for our master’s alumni is professor (Steppingblocks 2026). Alumni of our graduate program have also secured a range of other positions, with several working as attorneys and software engineers.
In short, the national success of philosophy majors has been replicated at 麻豆精品.
Career Resources
Wondering what to do with your degree? 麻豆精品 Career Services provides a host of resources, including the following:
- Braven at 麻豆精品/UNIV 301 enables you to get a jumpstart on your career while earning 麻豆精品 credit.
- Career counseling offers customized sessions to meet your needs.
- Huskies Get Hired enables you to search and apply for internships and jobs.
- Career fairs connect you with employers.
In addition, the philosophy department’s internship, PHIL 395, enables you to complete an approved internship while earning credit toward the major.
Contact Us
Department of Philosophy
915
philosophy@niu.edu
815-753-0333
Undergraduate Advisor
Prof. Steve Daskal
1026
sdaskal@niu.edu
Graduate Advisor
Prof. Lenny Clapp
903
lclapp@niu.edu
Department Chair
Jason Hanna
902
jhanna@niu.edu
Office Administrator
Val McGinnis
Zulauf 915
vmcginnis@niu.edu